one more thing... I tried to make a healthy meal the other night, brown rice and broccoli with almonds and sunflower seeds and I threw chicken in there... and it didn't go over well. It said to let the rice simmer for 40 minutes and I did and I guess I should have checked it because it burned.
And another name for the kids.... Bugaboo
Friday, February 29, 2008
What's in a name?
So those of you moms out there, you know what it's like to pick a name out for your child right? You read the baby name book as soon as you are pregnant and write down a bunch of names and then consult with the spouse and find the most fitting one right? Well, we did that but I want to let you know what I call my kids on a given day:
Van-
Van
Van-o
Baby
Baby Van
Tootsie
Pootsie
Boobie
Buby
Big Boy
Monster Mash
Adam-
Adam
Love
Buby
Buddy
Bud
Hot Cakes
'my special boy'
Adam will refer to himself as 'A big Tractor Boy' and he calls Van 'Roger Dodger' on occasion. Chip will call Van 'Vandle' and Adam 'Adamite'. And those are all I can think of right now but I am sure there are more. And thank you to BP and BB's mom for telling me how to get the pics on here. :)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Mom confession seven
When I became a stay at home mom, I decided I was going to really 'cook' meals. When I was working, it was really a drag to decide what to eat and what could be prepared quickly. Now that I was home, I decided to experiment in the kitchen a little more. When I got married, I received a meat loaf pan from a woman as well as a meat loaf recipe. I never made it but when I started the 'cooking kick' I did and it is wonderful! We eat it all the time now.
I am not sure if it is because I have kids now and I am really starting to look at the ingredients of things but I am amazed at how much salt is in things!! For the past two weeks my husband was working 2-10 so I was making our main meal at noon time and then just having a light lunch at dinner time. I opened a can of soup one night and I was like, holy moley! I had no idea the amount of salt! And of course all of the processed foods are high in salt like Rice a Roni or mac and cheese, etc. And in this month's Parents magazine, there was this whole article addressing the issue of salt and it gave a bunch of alternative suggestions. I wrote a bunch down and I can tell you about them if you want some day.
So a few nights ago I sat down with my trusty cook book and wrote down a bunch of things to eat. For me it's the side dishes that are difficult. We don't use canned vegetables, don't eat too many frozen dinners, and don't use the salt shaker really. I wanted lower sodium soups and side dishes though. Today at the grocery store I bought a bunch of different things- egg noddles, pearl barley, orzo, risotto and brown rice. I also brought along that little list of suggestions like Chicken of the Sea reduced sodium tuna, and Clasicco no sugar added pasta sauce. I will let you know how it goes over. But last night we had a reduced sodium soup and it wasn't bad. Tonight that plan is broccoli and brown rice. My husband is going to be like, what is going on? But I have the time to do it. The other thing is my aunt and sister in law both eat really healthy meals. We go to my aunts every Monday after Little Gym and she has delicious meals, and they are healthy. Like one dish she made was a shallot, an apple, rasins and steamed spinach. It was sooo good and I have made it a few times. I bought a bag of spinach today.
Don't get me wrong, I am not like heath nut. I had cheese doodles last night and ice cream cake. But I just sort of feel like I shouldn't give my kids mac and cheese packets as often as I do.
I have the cutest picture of a salt shaker but I can't figure out how to get pictures on here unless they are actually ones I have taken. I am going to have to get some assistance.
I am not sure if it is because I have kids now and I am really starting to look at the ingredients of things but I am amazed at how much salt is in things!! For the past two weeks my husband was working 2-10 so I was making our main meal at noon time and then just having a light lunch at dinner time. I opened a can of soup one night and I was like, holy moley! I had no idea the amount of salt! And of course all of the processed foods are high in salt like Rice a Roni or mac and cheese, etc. And in this month's Parents magazine, there was this whole article addressing the issue of salt and it gave a bunch of alternative suggestions. I wrote a bunch down and I can tell you about them if you want some day.
So a few nights ago I sat down with my trusty cook book and wrote down a bunch of things to eat. For me it's the side dishes that are difficult. We don't use canned vegetables, don't eat too many frozen dinners, and don't use the salt shaker really. I wanted lower sodium soups and side dishes though. Today at the grocery store I bought a bunch of different things- egg noddles, pearl barley, orzo, risotto and brown rice. I also brought along that little list of suggestions like Chicken of the Sea reduced sodium tuna, and Clasicco no sugar added pasta sauce. I will let you know how it goes over. But last night we had a reduced sodium soup and it wasn't bad. Tonight that plan is broccoli and brown rice. My husband is going to be like, what is going on? But I have the time to do it. The other thing is my aunt and sister in law both eat really healthy meals. We go to my aunts every Monday after Little Gym and she has delicious meals, and they are healthy. Like one dish she made was a shallot, an apple, rasins and steamed spinach. It was sooo good and I have made it a few times. I bought a bag of spinach today.
Don't get me wrong, I am not like heath nut. I had cheese doodles last night and ice cream cake. But I just sort of feel like I shouldn't give my kids mac and cheese packets as often as I do.
I have the cutest picture of a salt shaker but I can't figure out how to get pictures on here unless they are actually ones I have taken. I am going to have to get some assistance.
Mom confession six (since there are 2 threes we skipped five) got that? :)
Ok, this is a little crazy one... I seem to have a little crush on my chidrens' pediatrician! I thought I kept it pretty well hidden but my husband called me on it a few months ago. It's kinda a running joke actually, I accuse him of liking Rachel Ray and he accuses me of liking our pediatrician. I said to him one day, how did you know? He was like, you get giddy every time he comes in the room!
He's not attractive I don't think, and according to Parents magazine, it's very common to like your pediatrician. I think it is because he is very soft spoken and maybe I like the fact that he knows more about my children medically than I do? I don't really know. But I enjoy bringing the kids to the doctor.
Today was one of those days. We had the well check ups and since the kids are 3 days apart, we can book the appointments back to back. Chip wasn't able to go with me because he had some sort of really bad flu or something and no I didn't go and see the doctor alone- Ha! My mother in law went with me. They all know I HATE the shots, I mean no one likes them I guess but I always plan the appointments when Chip is off and even though he was, he couldn't go with me. The nurse told my mother in law, you would be surprised how many mothers can't do the shots or cry. That would be me.
Anyway, I fortunately (or unfortunately for me since I can't see the Dr. :) ) have two very healthy children. I don't know if it is the all healing powers of breast milk, farm fresh air, or not being in day care, but my kids don't really get sick. Adam hasn't been to the Dr since his last check up at 2 years and Van just went once for croup. All in all, two healthy kids. And they are still on the growing 'curves'. I can't really tell you percentiles because I didn't really look but Van is 19 pounds 6 ounces, same as Adam at a year and 31 1/2 inches long, a half an inch longer that Adam at a year. And Adam is 38 inches long and 29 pounds. So that was that for the day.
He's not attractive I don't think, and according to Parents magazine, it's very common to like your pediatrician. I think it is because he is very soft spoken and maybe I like the fact that he knows more about my children medically than I do? I don't really know. But I enjoy bringing the kids to the doctor.
Today was one of those days. We had the well check ups and since the kids are 3 days apart, we can book the appointments back to back. Chip wasn't able to go with me because he had some sort of really bad flu or something and no I didn't go and see the doctor alone- Ha! My mother in law went with me. They all know I HATE the shots, I mean no one likes them I guess but I always plan the appointments when Chip is off and even though he was, he couldn't go with me. The nurse told my mother in law, you would be surprised how many mothers can't do the shots or cry. That would be me.
Anyway, I fortunately (or unfortunately for me since I can't see the Dr. :) ) have two very healthy children. I don't know if it is the all healing powers of breast milk, farm fresh air, or not being in day care, but my kids don't really get sick. Adam hasn't been to the Dr since his last check up at 2 years and Van just went once for croup. All in all, two healthy kids. And they are still on the growing 'curves'. I can't really tell you percentiles because I didn't really look but Van is 19 pounds 6 ounces, same as Adam at a year and 31 1/2 inches long, a half an inch longer that Adam at a year. And Adam is 38 inches long and 29 pounds. So that was that for the day.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Three years ago today...
my life changed drastically. Well, probably not EXACTLY three years ago since I think it took a little while to sink in but three years ago today, I became a mom. There is no ‘trial’ period for becoming a mom. There is no practicum or training period; you are pregnant one day, and a mom the next. For me personally, it took a while to adjust to my new role. I was never completely responsible for another human being before besides myself. I was now the person in charge of feeding and making sure another person was happy even though I wasn’t really sure on how to do that. And it took me a while to find exactly the best way to do that. Before I was a mom my role was teacher, wife, and independent woman able to do as she pleased. Then I suddenly found myself staying at home, not really having a group of friends, not happy with my body, struggling to feed my baby, and most of the time tired. It took me a while to adjust to say the least.
But now, three years later I am at a totally different place. I couldn’t imagine working at this point, I have a group of friends, I am happy with my body and I can feed both of my children. My kids are the world to me. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. I love waking each morning to the sound of them and I love kissing them to bed each night. I feel like in a way that they have become who I am at this point. My world revolves around them and that is ok to me. My career can wait; I will never get this time back. We are building what we want our kids to become...
Let me just tell you a little about my three year old. :) I really make it an effort not to brag but I am going to give you a quote in a book I read once and I think it is so true,
But now, three years later I am at a totally different place. I couldn’t imagine working at this point, I have a group of friends, I am happy with my body and I can feed both of my children. My kids are the world to me. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. I love waking each morning to the sound of them and I love kissing them to bed each night. I feel like in a way that they have become who I am at this point. My world revolves around them and that is ok to me. My career can wait; I will never get this time back. We are building what we want our kids to become...
Let me just tell you a little about my three year old. :) I really make it an effort not to brag but I am going to give you a quote in a book I read once and I think it is so true,
‘There is only one beautiful child in the world and every mother has it.’
Isn’t it the truth?
I feel though that I have a beautiful, bright, energetic, obedient, polite and talented little boy. I really do. And I am just so damn proud of him. I honestly think he is the best thing going and so blessed to call him mine. I am so pleased with the little boy he is becoming. He is a hard worker, has an amazing imagination, is friendly and is always trying to please. He makes me laugh every day. The innocence of a child is a beautiful thing.
We celebrate his birth today. And I celebrate that I am his mother.
Isn’t it the truth?
I feel though that I have a beautiful, bright, energetic, obedient, polite and talented little boy. I really do. And I am just so damn proud of him. I honestly think he is the best thing going and so blessed to call him mine. I am so pleased with the little boy he is becoming. He is a hard worker, has an amazing imagination, is friendly and is always trying to please. He makes me laugh every day. The innocence of a child is a beautiful thing.
We celebrate his birth today. And I celebrate that I am his mother.
Happy Third Birthday Adam!
Today we had Adam's third birthday party. He is actually three today as well. We had 5 little friends over as well as Adam and two little babies (one being his brother.) Everyone seemed to have a fun time. We played pass the pickle, played with toys, had lunch, opened presents, and had cake and ice cream. We gave Adam a police man outfit as well as some other things but you can see him wearing it in one of the pictures, he really liked that. All in all, it has been a good day.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
One year ago today...
I received one of the greatest blessings of my life. Our little Van Willis was born at 9:38
in the evening. (Chip said we were going to have a reinactment of the labor from beginning to end and that would have started about 45 minutes ago. :) ) Van is a wonderful wonderful child. I often tell people, if I could clone him I would have probably ten more kids. He brings such joy to my life. He came home from the hospital sleeping through the night, he was a wonderful feeder and just an easy going baby. He is a delight and I love him more than words can describe. He has such a laid back personality, doesn't want to bother anyone and I call him my mush, he just likes to snuggle in and love you. I couldn't imagine life without him and it breaks my heart to see he is a year old already. My sweet sweet boy.
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